Ramona Cafe raises funds for young woman’s funeral costs

By Karen Brainard

Ramona Cafe held a fundraiser on Thursday to assist the family of Marley Pineda, a young Ramona woman who died in an accident on Friday, Oct. 19.

Sonja Steiner, owner of Ramona Cafe, said Pineda’s family needs help with her funeral costs. The 2011 Ramona High School graduate was killed on State Route 78 near Cloverdale Road, according to reports. Steiner said Pineda was driving from Ramona to Escondido in the evening and swerved to miss a dead deer in the road, but hit oncoming traffic. Steiner said Pineda had recently moved to Escondido.

The Ramona Cafe owner had known Pineda for a long time. Not only had the young woman worked at the cafe but she had also worked for many years at the Swiss Mountain View Egg Farm, owned by Steiner’s father, Charlie Steiner.

“That’s how we got to know her so well,” said Sonja Steiner. “She was really sweet, very helpful. She was very patient.” Steiner said her father was very close to Pineda.

According to Steiner, Pineda, who was turning 21 next month, was going to get married in December.

To help the family, Steiner offered to donate 30 percent of her sales from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday towards the funeral costs. The cafe stayed busy during those hours and many diners said they didn’t know the family but had heard about the accident and the fundraiser. Ruby Briseno, who was there with family members, said she didn’t personally know Pineda, but they both had attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

The funeral was held at the church at 1 p.m. on Thursday, according to Steiner.

Besides holding the fundraiser, Steiner has a donation box in her restaurant. Photos and comments about Pineda are on the Ramona cafe facebook page, facebook.com/RamonaCafe.

Most recently, Pineda had been working at Kimi’s Fashions in the Stater Bros. shopping center. The clothing store also has a box for donations.